6 day countdown...

Until we find out if this kid is a boy or girl! Many of you say girl, but only time will tell. Besides, let's be honest, we all have a fifty-fifty chance of being right (or wrong). When my mom was pregnant with me she went to a fortune teller who told her she was having a boy. Um, obviously not. So my mom, being the funny kooky lovely woman she was, found the lady's phone number and left her a message saying she was wrong, not to be mean, but just because she figured no one probably ever told her!

While we still don't know the gender, one thing we know for sure is that this baby is strong! Last night we BOTH felt the kicks, which I call "floops," even though the midwife said Steven wouldn't be able to feel it for another month. At first he didn't believe me, blaming my stomach burblings on my ridiculously frequent cravings for rice and beans, but when I kept saying floop! he finally asked where. I pointed and he got real close and we waited... and then, bam, a pretty decent kick (or elbow, or fist, who's to say?) and we both stared at each other in awe. Then it happened again, and again, until the baby tired itself out, or maybe got bored with teasing us. Can't wait until it happens again.

Father to Be

It has been quite a while since I have posted my innermost emotions on this blog, so here goes. I am a Father to Be! Each day that passes makes me even more excited about entering this new chapter of our lives, but each day that passes also brings me closer to the reality that I am going to be a dad (Internal Scream!) This is scary unchartered territory for me. I want to be the best dad that I can and am ready to give it everything I have.

January 2nd is our 20 week ultrasound where we'll find out if we will be having a girl or boy baby. I had always thought that I wouldn't want to know ahead of time, but this has all changed for me. The thought that there is this piece of information I can find out about my baby is driving me nuts. I want to know now! I want to know if I will be taking my kid soccer or ballet lessons. Actually, one of my main goals is to not steer my child into a "typical" gender role. I must confess that as a young boy I wanted to take ballet classes and was steered towards karate. I could have been a primo ballerino... Except for the one time I got to break a board I hated every minute of it.

Desert (not Dessert) Pics

The pictures came out, yippee! Though the quality of our disposable camera has much to be desired. Here are two highlights from our trip: The first one is Steven hanging out with a couple cacti and then me in a very bizarro hat - part bonnet, part macrame project, it is a disaster of a purchase (intended but not used for the hike) and was promptly returned once we regained our sanity.

Growing, (eating) growing, (eating) growing...

Not exactly anything new, but I will share with you anyway... I can't stop eating. Especially desserts. I'm going to be in serious trouble at Italian Christmas Eve. All those sweets and cakes so readily available and me having absolutely ZERO self-control. It's like my brain understands I'm full and that eating sleeves of cookies is probably not a good idea, but my hands keep moving toward my mouth with gluttonous abandon.

Oh, and for all those lovely people who scoffed at my poor excuse for a bump last week, let me tell you that at the start of week 18 I have officially "popped," meaning, I no longer have to point out my belly as it immediately presents itself. Hopefully the dress I bought for my friend's party last night will hold out for X-mas but I think I may outgrow it by New Year's. Especially if I keep up my excessive dessert regimen.

Pictures from our Arizona spa vacation coming soon, unless they were destroyed during the unfortunate trip our disposable camera took in the X-ray machine at the airport.